Back Strand
- Shortboard, Advanced riders
- Best for
- Intermediate to Expert
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Back Strands is a fairly exposed, fairly consistent reef break that offers year-round surfing opportunities. The break is described as right-hand on the correct reef sections, and it’s associated with Atlantic swell that arrives most cleanly from the west. Surf quality is strongly influenced by wind and tide. East to Southeast winds are noted as providing cleaner offshore conditions, while mid tide is generally recommended to avoid the shallowest reef areas. The waves can peel through, but they can also become heavy and difficult to manage when the Atlantic pushes larger sets. Water temperatures are very cold, particularly in winter (around 8–9°C), so cold-water gear is essential. The recommended setup is a winter wetsuit along with neoprene hood, gloves, and boots, with thicker winter protection extending through the colder months. As a reef break with submerged rocks and possible strong currents/rip currents, it’s best suited to surfers with intermediate-to-expert experience. Materials also note the spot can get quite busy during good swells, so be prepared for crowding during optimal conditions.
- Exposed reef break with consistent surf
- Year-round working conditions with best performance tied to west swell
- Offshore tendencies with East/Southeast winds
- Very cold water requiring a full winter wetsuit
- Fairly exposed but consistent reef break
- Works year-round, with best performance linked to ideal west swells
- Southeast/East winds can give cleaner offshore conditions for surfing
- Exposed reef environment with submerged rocks and reef-bottom risk
- Very cold water, requiring serious cold-water preparation
- Can become heavy and difficult to manage on bigger swell
- Can get busy in good conditions
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SE, E
- Offshore directions
- SSE, SE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Wind sessions are typically driven by Atlantic weather fronts; East/Southeast winds can offer offshore conditions for this break.
- Reliability
- medium
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- September, October, November, February
- Shadow Zones
- High ground near Streedagh can create wind shadows in certain directions.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Reef — Materials indicate reef-bottom/break; another source describes sand with a sandy entry leading to reef breaks.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium
- Launch
- Medium — Sandy beach entry leading to reef breaks; rocky sections near shore.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch involves reaching the reef breaks; rocky/submerged reef sections increase complexity.
Through the year
Can get quite busy on weekends and during good swells.
Winter months see frequent North Atlantic depressions and storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Back Strands is a fairly exposed, consistent reef break that produces reef waves (noted as right-hand) and works year-round with Atlantic swell. Ideal swell is from the west; conditions can become heavy on larger sets.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- W, NW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Mid tide helps avoid the shallowest reef sections.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed Atlantic coastline; not protected from wind/swell.
- Wind Effect
- East and Southeast winds provide cleaner offshore conditions for this exposed reef break.
- Bigger Swell
- On massive Atlantic swells it can become heavy and difficult to manage.
- Wave Quality
- Good
- Wave Power
- Moderate
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Right-hand reef break / wave sections can vary, with generally peeling character.
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Can offer decent rides depending on the specific reef section and swell angle.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–150 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typical ride lengths reported as about 50–150 meters depending on the reef section and swell angle.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Back Strand in the full forecast view.
Back Strand wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 7–38 ktsGusts 60 kts
- Direction
- SW235°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2438 kts
- Windy days
- 7/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–6.1 m9s period
- Temperature
- 8–16 °C
Over the next 7 days, Back Strand is forecast for daytime winds of 7–38 kts, peaking around 38 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 60 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.6–6.1 m with a period of about 9s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- reef-bottom
- submerged rocks
- submerged reef sections
- possible-strong-currents
- rip currents
- very-cold-water
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability in the wider area is described as limited.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency services can be reached by dialing 999 or 112; Sligo University Hospital is the closest major medical facility.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Localism described as none/mild in available materials.
Rules of the spot
Use proper cold-water and reef awareness: expect a cold-water, exposed reef environment with possible strong currents and rock hazards.
- Wear a full winter wetsuit with hood, gloves, and boots due to very cold water (around 8–9°C in winter).
- Best surfing is typically on mid tide to avoid the shallowest reef sections.
- Check the forecast for East or Southeast winds for the cleanest offshore conditions.
- Expect a right-hand reef break (on the correct reef sections).
- Sessions can get busy during good conditions.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Sligo
- Nearest Town
- Strandhill
- Parking
- Public parking available at the Streedagh Strand entrance.
- Access
- Beach access from the Strandhill area / Streedagh beach road and parking area; rocky sections present near shore.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Guesthouses and B&Bs in Grange and Mullaghmore.
- Food & Drink
- Local pubs and cafes in nearby Grange village.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental available via local surf school/operator listings.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Back Strand?
The best overall months at Back Strand are September, October, November, December. The best wind months are September, October, November, February.
Which wind directions work at Back Strand?
Back Strand works with SE, E winds. Offshore directions are SSE, SE.
What skill level is Back Strand suitable for?
Back Strand suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Expert.